Premier Keeps 'Official' Status

TRANSPORTATION

Cruise Line Adds Ship, Renews Contract With Walt Disney World

May 29, 1989|By Adam Yeomans of The Sentinel Staff

As Premier Cruise Lines Ltd. prepared last week to christen its third cruise ship at Port Canaveral, the company already had signed a new contract with Walt Disney World to remain the attraction's ''official cruise line'' for another 10 years.

The relationship between the two companies has been lucrative, although the dollar figure was unavailable last week.

This year, Premier expects to handle 300,000 passengers, and 65 percent of them will stay at Disney World for part of their vacation. Only 35 percent of the cruise line's passengers will come only for the cruise.

''It's a wonderful combination,'' Disney spokesman John Dreyer said.

Last Saturday, Premier Cruise Lines, Disney, the port and other groups christened the company's third ship, the Star/Ships Majestic, formerly the Sun Princess.

At 28,000 tons, the Majestic will be able to sail into the harbor at Abaco in the Bahamas. The cruise ship is the same vessel used on the TV show The Love Boat.

John Teets, president and chief executive of Greyhound Corp., the parent of Premier Cruise Lines, said the company, based in Phoenix, Ariz., plans to add a cruise ship about every 15 months if the demand remains strong.

''We think Central Florida is where the action's at,'' he said.

In 1988, Premier had strong passenger loads. Teets said he expected the cruise line to continue to do well because it caters specifically to families.